KINGSTON Council says that the permanent closure of the Mordialloc Stabling Yard underpass is a “major inconvenience”, and is calling for a better solution.
The Mordialloc Stabling Yard underpass closed permanently on 18 August, as rail bridges are built as part of level crossing removal works in Mordialloc and Aspendale.
Kingston mayor Georgina Oxley has called for an alternative pedestrian and cyclist access link to be delivered by the state government.
“Council supports the long-term benefits of the Level Crossing Removal Project, but major infrastructure must not come at the cost of essential community connections,” she said.
“We’ve been raising this issue for more than 12 months and while we remain open to collaboration with LXRP and the Victorian Government, we need urgent action. The alternative 800m route through local streets is simply not a genuine permanent solution. The community needs a direct and safe alternative.”
Level Crossing Removal Project CEO Matthew Gault has defended the decision. He said “closing the underpass is necessary to keep trains running on the Frankston Line and delivering a safer, more accessible Mordialloc Station.
“We’re getting on with removing three dangerous level crossings and building a new, modern Mordialloc Station, making the area safer, less congested and better connected.”
The underpass will be removed to extend tracks in the nearby stabling yard so trains can access the new elevated rail bridges.
The LXRP investigated building a new underpass nearby, a crossing over Mordialloc Creek, and reconfiguring the Mordialloc stabling yard. It ultimately opted not to proceed with these projects due to flood risks, and compliance with accessibility standards.
Community members rallied at the underpass on 22 August to protest the closure. Kingston councillor Tess Law attended. She said “the Level Crossing Removal Project is removing a historical path built in 1895 even though 2,360 people in the community want it to stay.
“It’s part of a Victorian government C1 cycling corridor, part of the Melbourne Water strategy, and Kingston Council is building a $87.5 million Aquatic and Leisure Centre 800 metres away and this pathway is a critical connection.”
The suggested detour for pedestrians and cyclists travelling between Pompei’s Landing and George Woods Reserve is to cross the river using the existing Mordialloc Creek pedestrian bridge and southern underpass, or to use Bear Street.
Kingston deputy mayor Chris Howe said the LXRP’s proposed alternative is “not acceptable”.
“An 800-metre detour is a major inconvenience that will significantly affect thousands of students, families, commuters and visitors who rely on this connection every week,” Howe said.
“To close this underpass without providing a safe, direct and workable solution will have a huge impact on the thousands of students, pedestrians and cyclists that currently use the underpass each week. Council has been clear from the outset: we need a practical, permanent solution that protects safety and supports accessibility for our community.”
At a council meeting last month, Cr Law moved a motion suggesting that “council receive a report detailing the costs, features and benefits of detailed business case and feasibility analysis of alternative replacement options for the Mordialloc Creek Northern Underpass.”
The motion was supported by Crs Law, Sarah O’Donnell, Chris Hill, Hadi Saab, and Kirralee Ashworth-Collett, but was narrowly lost on the casting vote of the mayor.
Council officers wrote that they are “of the view that as closure of the underpass was a State Government decision, a suitable replacement must be planned, designed and constructed by the State Government as part of the Mordialloc LXRP scope of works. As always, Council officers are willing to work with LXRP to achieve good community outcomes.”
“The Mordialloc Creek underpass is well used and provides valued community access. It is a vital thoroughfare for students to Mordialloc Secondary College, including those who live west of Nepean Highway. The closure of the underpass will make every journey to and from school up to 20 minutes longer for these children,” council officers wrote.
“In any given week, pedestrian counters show that the underpass is used around 1,000 times each day, and on weekends, up to 1,800 times – not counting the festivals and events which occur over summer and make that part of Mordialloc a high-traffic location. There are also concerns that the area at the southern end of Pompei’s Landing and the adjacent public car park will be less safe at night.
“The underpass is an exit route from an area that is bordered by the Mordialloc Creek on one side and the railway line on the other. In addition, Kingston’s new Mordi Aquatic Centre will be completed by the end of 2026, and the closure of the underpass takes away the most direct way to access it on foot from central Mordialloc.”
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 27 August 2025